“The break occurred in front of 243 Ohio St. and we got the call at 1:59 p.m.,” said Bangor Assistant Fire Chief Tom Higgins. “By the time we got there, they had already secured the leak with clamps.”

Eighteen customers were left without gas for almost three hours, and the road had to be closed for 20 minutes as crews widened the hole to begin permanent repairs. Higgins said a crew member told him it would take about two hours to fix the pipe.

Either a rock or one of the teeth on a backhoe caused the puncture.

“We just checked air quality to make sure the leak was in fact gone,” said Higgins. “Those things clamp those pipes down tight, but the pipe reforms its shape after they’re taken off. It’s pretty impressive.”

Engines and rescue units responded from both Central Station on Main Street and Station Six on Griffin Road. An aerial — or bucket — truck was also dispatched.

“There were no injuries or anything like that, just a pain in the butt for Bangor Gas,” Higgins said.